‘MS. 45’ Gets a Proper Release Courtesy of Drafthouse Films
Let me just say that typing this post up has be ecstatic beyond belief. I believe it was my friend Ed Demko, who you may remember from the 42nd Minute segments on the ol’ podcast, who introduced this film to me. The title I saw it under was Angel of Vengeance. It was a French DVD that I had imported as it was the only DVD release of the film. I was blown away by what I saw. It was dark, dirty, unapologetic and seemed to have no “law” to the film. I loved it. Last year, I tried booking the film for our Late Nite Grindhouse program by securing a 35mm print. Sadly, it fell through and I didn’t get to show this little seen classic. Now, those words “little seen” will hopefully be eradicated as celluoid champions Drafthouse Films have picked up the film for an official uncut HD release of the film in 2014 as well as theatrical showings of the film in December.
From the Drafthouse Films Site:
At Drafthouse Films we’re huge admirers of Abel Ferrara, so there’s no greater pleasure for us than announcing our acquisition of the North American rights to Ferrara’s 1981 revenge thriller classic Ms. 45. The film follows a mute garment-district seamstress – played by the late model/actress/musician/screenwriter Zoë Lund – who, after falling victim to multiple unspeakable assaults, ignites a one-woman homicidal rampage against New York City’s entire male population. Now remastered in HD from the original negative materials, Ms. 45 returns to theaters this December and will debut on DVD and Blu-ray uncut for the first time in North America early next year.
The fiercely independent auteur Abel Ferrara debuted with his infamous 1979 D.I.Y. cult classic The Driller Killer, which established his signature fusion of NYC, despair, calculated stylish flourishes and idiosyncratic humor. Two years later, his follow-up feature Ms. 45 starred the then 18-year-old Zoë Lund, and explored similar themes while executing a uniquely feminist entry in the urban revenge subgenre. In Brad Stevens’ biography “Abel Ferrara: The Moral Vision”, Ferrara recalls of the film, “it shook people up to see an innocent person like themselves suddenly becoming a wanton murderer.” Combining the rampaging angst of 1976’s Death Wish and Roman Polanski’s surreal, post-traumatic Repulsion, Ms. 45 returns from the cult underground over 30 years later to reclaim its title as perhaps the most shocking, complex and empowering vigilante film of the 1980s.
“One of the primary missions with Drafthouse Films is to build a selection of films which destroy the barriers between ‘art-house’ and ‘grindhouse,” says our Creative Director Evan Husney, “and Abel Ferrara’s work embodies just that. Ms. 45 is one of those fringe ‘80s films that has been somewhat marginalized as pure exploitation, so we are beyond thrilled to reintroduce it to a new audience of cinephiles.”
Join the Drafthouse Alliance today to receive Ms. 45 on home video before its street date!
Fans can download two tracks from the film’s original soundtrack (soon to be released for the first time ever by UK’s Death Waltz Records) for free right here: bit.ly/Ms45Download
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